About

Ahri Golden's Debut Studio Album, DELVE

$15,150

pledged of $15,000 goal

220

backers

Thank you for finding your way to my story! I am Ahri Golden and my goal is to raise $15,000 to produce my debut studio album, DELVE.

I am an award-winning public radio producer turned singer/songwriter. The journey to my singing and songwriting life has been a transformative odyssey, which began at my grandmother's funeral in 2003. Bernice Friedman was a pillar of grace and wisdom in my life. She died suddenly in a tragic car accident only 9 days after my wedding. When she passed on, my mother, who always wrote and delivered the most brilliantly eloquent of speeches, was devastated, inconsolable, and speechless. I wrote the eulogy, enacted the story of my relationship with my grandmother, and sang. It was the first time I ever sang to a large group of people. It was cathartic and had planted a seed toward finding my voice.

Fast forward to 2010, when my son was five years old, and a new big brother, I became oddly adamant that he take music lessons.

I hired Dave Rosenfeld, who was a musician, music producer, private teacher, and creativity coach. Conveniently, he lived just a few blocks away. After a handful of lessons it became hard to get my son motivated to go. One day, I was struggling for us to make the lesson on time and he said to me with great frustration and breathtaking wisdom, "Mom, I don't want music, YOU want music!"

I stood there, dumbfounded. We stared at each other. I remembered the visceral experience of singing at my grandmother's funeral in a flash.

Then I took a deep breath and said, "Wow. You're right. I do.” He was right. I wanted music. My son called a spade and spade. I listened.

The next week, I took his place in the music lessons with Dave and we've collaborated every week since then to improvise, open and hone my voice.

Dave lives in my neighborhood, which, as a mom of two kids has made this music practice with him possible. He's also a part of my close community of friends, so there has been a built-in trust and comfort with such vulnerable work.

I couldn't yet define what exactly I was doing with Dave, but I knew it was powerful. I kept showing up to our weekly sessions and trusted that what was to emerge would emerge, even though I had no idea what that meant. I was both exhilarated and scared out of my mind by the work, until I simply accepted it as so and relaxed further into this transformation.

Then, something happened.

In February 2012, my first song woke me from sleep and came out in 10 minutes. The following month I wrote another, then another. I realized an album was coming out of me and I set a goal to write 10 songs by the following February 2013. I did.

Now, because Dave and I are spending a lot more time and energy on producing my debut album, DELVE, our trade currency is changing. The necessity for financial resources to pay for the production has become apparent.

My goal for this Kickstarter campaign is to cover the cost of producing DELVE with 10 original songs in a professional studio atFantasy Studios for a 2014 debut release.

The total cost is approximated at $15,000. Here's the breakdown:

- Professional musicians, three musicians per song at $100 each for 10 songs ($3000)- Small studio with a sound engineer for $800 per day for six days ($4800) - Large studio with grand piano and a sound engineer for one day ($1000) - Album mixing, $75 per hour at four hours for each of 10 songs ($3000) - Album mastering, $80 per hour at four hours for each of 10 songs ($3200)

My intention with DELVE is to craft an original sonic and visual vehicle to observe, experience and reflect on humanity, while holding a vision of what is possible for future generations. I hope to inspire anyone who is interested in listening to the fundamental core of themselves, but may be scared to do so, with a mission to delve deep, grow, and overcome barriers that keep us from who we are destined to become. Also, I am speaking to mothers who have delved into the ways in which parenting the next generation of global citizens has the capacity to transform us, and the world-at-large.

And, back to the year that changed my life in 2003. At the wedding, our guests added notes and small gifts to a wooden box with our names inscribed on the front in black ink inside a red painted rectangle, with a larger blue rectangle border, like the colors of blood coursing through our veins.

In this time capsule, to be opened on our 5th year anniversary, was a note with a quote in my grandmother's distinct penmanship stating: "May you always have what you need and never have to need what you want." These were the last words of wisdom written to me by my grandmother, Bernice Friedman, just 9 days before she died.

I feel her presence alive inside me and the lives of my children every moment of every single day. DELVE is dedicated to her.

And, thank YOU for being a part of this journey with me.

There are many enticing rewards I have for you as an offering of gratitude for your unique role in bringing DELVE to fruition, so please sign up.

With awe at the magnetic force that makes all life, creativity and connection possible,

Ahri

Risks and challenges

The risks and challenges that may come with completing DELVE are running out of financial resources due to unforeseen costs associated with the production.

I am qualified to overcome potential risks because I have a fierce work ethic and an unstoppable vision to bring DELVE to fruition. My award-winning public radio skills are strongly transferrable to music production. I have conceived and produced numerous media projects on a shoestring budget and was able to troubleshoot many production challenges with relative ease.

Also, I have a breadth of experience in determining problems before they arise, particularly as it relates to the people involved in moving production forward. It is critical that qualified people are hired to get the job done as efficiently as possible. When the people within the eco-system of production are on the same page, and connected during the entire process, then the final product can be delivered on time and under or on budget.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $250 or more
About $250

An intimate, a cappella house concert (if out of the Bay Area then travel expenses would need to be covered by the Backer), a copy of the album, a credit on the album, and a copy of the original album cover art.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $450 or more
About $450

A photo shoot for you, or as a gift to a friend, (if out of the Bay Area then travel expenses would need to be covered by the Backer), a copy of the album, a credit on the album, and a copy of the original album cover art.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,000 or more
About $1,000

I will write and sing a song about you or something that has happened in your life that you think would make a great song, written and produced for my second album, a copy of the album, a credit on the album, and a copy of the original album cover art.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $2,000 or more
About $2,000

I will write and sing a song about you or something that has happened in your life that you think would make a great song, written and produced for my second album, plus an original painting with the same narrative inspiration as your song (or a narrative of your choice), a copy of the album, a credit on the album, and a copy of the original album cover art.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $5,000 or more
About $5,000

An intimate, a cappella house concert (if out of the Bay Area then travel expenses would need to be covered by the Backer), a photo shoot for you, or as a gift to a friend, (if out of the Bay Area then travel expenses would need to be covered by the Backer), I will write and sing a song about you or something that has happened in your life that you think would make a great song written and produced for my second album, plus an original painting with the same narrative inspiration as your song (or a narrative of your choice), a copy of the album, a credit on the album, and a copy of the original album cover art.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $10,000
About $10,000

To be feasted at my home with a supremely delicious, organic, home-cooked meal, an intimate, a cappella house concert (if out of the Bay Area then travel expenses would need to be covered by the Backer), a photo shoot for you, or as a gift to a friend, (if out of the Bay Area then travel expenses would need to be covered by the Backer), I will write and sing a song about you or something that has happened in your life that you think would make a great song written and produced for my second album, plus an original painting with the same narrative inspiration as your song (or a narrative of your choice), a copy of the album, a credit on the album, and a copy of the original album cover art.